I was taken aback by my father's words. 'Did he just say that he'd cut the steak?' My eyes trembled slightly until I noticed where he was looking. 'Oh, is that what's going on?' My father was gazing at Max. It seemed that maybe he wanted to make up with him. It was true that he had always cared more about his disciple than his own daughter.

'I better help them make peace.' It was better for me if my father and Max got along again because I had been bothered ever since they fell apart because of me. There was also the chance that my father might give up on marrying me off to the crown prince for his disciple's sake.

"Okay. Thank you, Father," I said as I gladly handed the plate over to him.

"What a difference there is between the inside and outside," my father said while cutting the meat.

Was it because it was cooked medium rare? From the outside, it looked pretty well cooked, but it was definitely still reddish inside. 'Still, I think it's been cooked enough…' I thought, almost drooling at the sight of the juices seeping out of the meat.

"You should always be careful. If there is too much difference between the inside and the outside, there's a chance you might see blood," my father continued.

He was right. Even if I told the servant or chef in advance how I wanted the meat cooked, it was sometimes served to me under-cooked. There have also been times where I had absentmindedly cut the meat and lost my appetite from excessive blood.

'Well, in that situation, it can always be grilled again,' I thought peacefully.

"Here," my father said as he handed my plate back.

"Oh, thank you." When I handed the plate over to Max, I saw him open his mouth to say thank you, but my father spoke before him, ruining his opportunity.

"Jubelian." I turned my attention towards him when he called my name.

"Yes?"

My father reached out his hand to me. "Hand over your plate as well."

My heart fluttered weakly at his words, but the feeling soon subsided. 'I guess it looks weird to only help his disciple and not his daughter.'

However, unlike my thoughts, a slightly pleased voice came out of my mouth. "Thank you," I replied. Because there was a chance that my father and Max might make up, I was content and filled with hope. Nevertheless, I had no choice but let out a sigh soon after.

'There's no sign of reconciliation.' Even though my father had cut Max's steak for him, the two had not exchanged a single word. 'Seeing how they've been glancing at each other, it doesn't seem like they want to avoid it…'

At that moment, my father looked into my eyes and said, "Let's have tea later."

At his words, I realized something and chuckled. The person he actually wanted to have tea with was Max, and he was only using me as an excuse. 'He really… cares a lot about Max,' I thought as I snuck a glance at Max.

"Will that be okay?" I asked him. I wasn't sure what he wanted to say, but he gazed at me for a while before slowly nodding his head. I had expected this response from how he kept glancing at my father throughout the dinner. It seemed that he wanted to make up with him as well, after all.

'They'll finally forgive each other.' If they fixed their relationship, there was a chance that my father might approve of me dating Max and cancel my blind date with the crown prince. If that happened, I could simply continue pretending to go out with Max until the prince got married.

Imagining a hopeful future, I spoke with joy: "Then let's drink the tea I made today."

At my words, my father's and Max's expressions changed remarkably. My father's face hardened, and Max narrowed his eyes at me. 'Hm? Do they not trust the tea I made?' It's true that I needed some test subjects to taste my tea since I wasn't feeling confident about it.

Feeling embarrassed, I quickly offered another option. "Or maybe we can just drink some other tea…" I trailed off.

At that moment, the butler suddenly approached my father and reported, "Master, a messenger is here from the palace."

"What's so important that it's interrupting my dinner?" my father asked in an irritated tone.

Derrick studied my father's face for a moment, then opened his mouth. "The emperor wishes to summon you to the imperial palace immediately—"

"For what?" Max, who was next to me, cut in and joined the conversation.

"Oh, that is…" I felt sorry for Derrick, who was just doing his job diligently, as he was being run over by these men.

"It sounds urgent. We can drink tea next time," I said and held Max's hand tightly after, thinking that he might start something again. "Let's go." I was afraid that he was going to protest, but Max quietly followed beside me.

'I guess the reconciliation is off the table for now,' I thought regretfully as I turned around.

"It's not urgent." I stopped when I heard my father's resolute voice. Even with his status as a duke, it was still a shocking remark.

"But… it's an order from the emperor," I responded carefully.

However, my father didn't change his stubborn attitude. "This is more important to me."

I understood that making up with his disciple was important, but couldn't help being concerned about him acting against the emperor's orders like this. My eyes shook in confusion when I heard a cool and collected voice from next to me sympathize with my father's nonsense.

"I concur."